Rotary engine.



' o. J. FELIU.

ROTARY ENGINE. APPLIUATION FILED JULY 16, 1910. 1,027,646. Y Patenteamay 28, 1912.

2 SHEETSQSHEBT 1.

.fllllllllll l G. J, FELo. ROTARY ENGINE.4 APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

coLuMnlA PLANOGRAPH c0..wA.\mNG'roN, n. c.

Patented May 2s, 1912.

CHESTER J. FELIO', -OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

` Patented May 28,1912.

Application led July 16, i916. i Serial No. 572,409.

To oZZ whom t may concern Be it known that I, CHESTER J. FELIO, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chi- 7 cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use fulv Improvements in Rotary Engines and Methods of Operating theSame, of vwhich thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of .rotary engines commonly kknown as turbine, and more particularly to a type which is driven by the impact of air or steam or like fluids, and it consists invia novel method o-fdriving -the same by expansion of the fluid in the `provision of means whereby the wings,'vanes or pistons' of the turbine, after receiving the direct impact of the Steam or other blast,vare, in`

Ntheir progressive revolution, still further impelled by the expansive force of the same charge of motive power; in a novel construction of the rotary pistons, designed to secure an advantageousA angle to the line of y force; in proportioning the friction pressure, 25."

of the packing to the energy of the motion ,fluid automatically bythe pressure of the latter; in an improved packing of said pistons, closing against the cylinder wall'with aforce proportionate to the, pressure of the steam; in securing more durability to the machine as a whole bythe employment o-f a @permanent outer shell or casing, with a re-y movable lining for the working chamber or cylinder, which lining receives the wear, and in various other features and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

\ In the drawings; Figure 1 is a, sectional view, looking toward the inner face of one ofthe half sections of the shell or casting, therefore embracing the farther half of the steam chest and the working chamber or cylinder; Fig. 2, a proximately horizontal sectional view through the entire machine,

taken on the correspondingly numbered line` in the preceding figure; Fig. '3, a diagram explanatory of the line of force of power when the engine is in operation; Fig. 4, a sectional perspective view, showing one half of one of the rotary arms or members, and of its piston-head; Fig. "5, a detail view of a half section of one of the cupped packing rings; Fig. 6, details yof smaller and acces- "sory features of said packing ring; Fig. 7, a transverse section enlarged, through packing ring and cupped piston, on the line indicated; Fig. 8, a perspective view of one of the rotary arms withv its cupped packing ring andring seatin position in the pistonhead,rand Fig. 9, ,a vertical sectional view through the complete engine, t-aken mainly sections of the shell or casing. K

The preferred Vembodiment of my inven- V on the line of cleavage between the twin'- tion illustrated in said drawings comprises a shell or casing made in two similar `half Sections A, A1, which are Ain, the form of castings of iron, steel vor other suitable material, the main portion being of substantially circular outline, with an enlargement at one side of the periphery, and the whole ybeing provided with feet a, al, or other suit The half sections may bel able supports. securedtogether in any appropriate manner,

`but I prefer to connect them by bolts passed lthrough apertured lugs or ears a2, arranged at intervals around the perimeter of` the same. the casing, in that part which encirclesthe I also provide the two sections of annular working chamber or cylinder, with an interlocking and centering connection, by forming a groove a3, on one of the sections and a Ycorresponding tongue an4 at the other, so that when bolted together they become not only perfectly centered but also airtight.

The casing contains two chambers, B, B1, the former of which is annular in shape, to constitute the working chamber or cylinder, and to receive thek piston-heads carried yby the rotary arms hereinafter described, and the latter 'of which' is contained in the enlargement andvforms a steam chest for supplying steam or other motive fluid, under pressure, to the cylinder and rotaryfparts.,` l'

This steam Vchest or chamber has a suitable inlet -ZJ for the motive fluid, and arranged within said chest is a divider b1, pyramidal or wedgeform in shape.

steam, in theproportion of about two thirds to one third, toward ports b2, o?, formed in p This divider is so arranged that it`forms in the steam chest' two tapered outlet passagesV which `direct the an annular lining B2 arranged in the annuy i arms c which radiate fromF a shaft c1, ro-

tating in bearings in the casing.

The space between the steam ports b2, b3 1s greater than the distance across the cup C1 A in the direction of rotation, so that both of said ports will not be closed at the same time, and consequently when the upper or foremost port Z22, which receives most steam or motive iiuid, is closed by the passage of the solid portions of the piston-heads, forming an unbroken ring completely choking the working chamber except for the cups, sufficientsteam will enter the cup of some succeeding piston-head through the rear or lesser port 3 to move the rotary parts and uncover the forward port, that is, to bring acup beneath it, when starting the machine;

For the purpose of utilizing the expansive action of steam, as well as its impactor vis inertia, I prefer to provide slightly in advance of each of the steam inlet ports, expansion chambers or pockets c2, directed forward and communicating with the effective working chamber through openings c3 in the annular lining. These latter openings are in the form of narrow slots extending lengthwise of the chamber and constituting` a grating to permitI the free passage of steam, and consequently its expansion, but effectively prevent the packing rings, or other packing, hereinafter described, on the rotary parts, from entering the pocket-s or expansion chambers. Tf desired, similar pockets or expansion chambers c4 may be provided at intervals around the working chamber, and these latter expansion chambers may contain inwardly opening safety valves c5 to allow air to enter should a vacuum be produced, as when running the engine with compressed air. The cups C1 are spaced suiiiciently far apart to cut them off, one from another, in passing these expansion chambers, so that each receives the full benefit of the expansion of the steam it delivers thereto.

A depression or cavity c6, to receive the exhaust steam and water of condensation, is provided at the bottom of the engine, and communicates with the working chamber through ports c?, cut in the annular lining thereof. in outlet port 0S leads from this exhaust chamber to any suitable discharge, as a governing device controlling the exhaust and the speed of the engine in the usual manner.

rEhe annular lining B2 is milled and its several slots or ports are stamped or otherwise bent in to leave smooth exposed edges and provide small bracing fianges 09 which,

as it were, form supporting bridges, and also, by taking into the corresponding apertures in the casing, prevent slip of the lining and consequent loss of alinement. It is removably arranged between the twin sections of the casing, to permit it to be readily replaced when injured or worn. By providing this removable lining and making the shell or casing out of twin castings, the engine can be constructed at comparatively small cost; the shell can be used indefinitely, and the lining and other parts exposed to wear can be removed and replaced from time to time at an economical rate.

The shaft c1 is rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing D, axially arranged in the central portion Z of the two half sections 4of the casing, and said central portion is formed with openings (Z1, herein shown as radial, but not necessarily so, for the purpose of allowing air to circulate around the revolving arms or members c which carry the cupped piston-heads. These arms are removably fixed to the shaft at their inner ends, and their side portions may be formed with apertured flanges Z2 and (Z3 adapted, respectively, to be bolted to corresponding iianges on the arms in front and rear, whereby the several radiating arms are securel united and the piston-heads assembled in the before mentioned unbroken ring.

The piston-cup C1 is substantially pearshaped, or truncate-conoidal, with the butt end in advance, the longest diameter, therefore, coinciding with the plane of revolution, and it has at said butt end a circular enlargement E, containing a supplemental bulbous or semi-spherical chamber El, which communicates with and forms a part of said piston-cup. terior annular groove c for the reception oi' the packing. The small end of the piston-cup is formed with an upwardly and outwardly projecting, apertured lug el which can be lbolted to the front end of the next succeeding piston-head. The intermediate or main portion of the piston-cup or chamber is adapted to contain a packing device which will retain steam or other motive iiuid within the cup as it travels around the annular steam space or working chamber, and which will automatically respond to increase or decrease in the fluid pressure, to press against the walls of said chamber with increased or diminished force, thereby accommodating the friction to the strength of the propelling agency. This packing device I preferably make in the form of a two section cup-ring F, divided along the center coincidentally with the major axis of the piston-cup. The two sections of this packing ring or cup have a tongue and groove connection or joint f which allows some pliancy, and they are iixedly joined together by leaf-springs f1, one end of which is fastened to each sec- This enlargement, E, has an ex-L enlargement.

charge of steam or other motive fluid to force these edges still further against the lining with a potency proportional to the degree of pressure, thus insuring a steamtight fit at all times, and an increase o-r decrease of friction in. ratio with the power. The forward or enlarged ends of the Asections of the cup-ring ft around the enlargement E, at the butt end of the piston cup C1,

in which it loosely lits, and these ends are `formed with inwardly extending curved ribs f2 to enter the annular groove e in said The outer faces of the sections at these ends, opposite said ribs, yare grooved to receive sectional packing rings f3, pressedy outwardly by springs f4, and limited in this outward movement by retaining screws f5, upon which the springs are arranged. The object of these s'ectionalpacking rings, with their limited playrand indey pendently yielding pressure, is to afford relief from what otherwise might be, abnormally high frictio-n at this point under an exceptionally high head of steam. The small rear ends ofthe two sections of the cup or packing ring are formed with inwardly extending notched and overlapping 4parts or flanges f6, which are opposed to the apertured lug el, and which receive in their notches the cylindrical sub-head g, of a bolt Gr, which latter has a major head G1, serving as a ring seat. The threaded portion g1 of this bolt passes through the apertured lug and into a threaded opening in the next adjacent piston-head, the bolt thereby serving ,not only to retain the cup-ring in position,

but to unite the outer portions of the several rotary arms. Owing to this peculiar construction of the packing device, it will be seen-that the steam admitted to the piston cup as it passes the ports of the steam chest, will be confined and allowed to expand only when said cup is in communication with onek of the expansion chambers, the packing device preventing escape of steam, and also automatically graduating the friction to the driving head,as above explained.

In Fig. 3 I have `sho-wn a diagram illustrating the line of forceof the steam or other expansive fluid in the packed or steam tight chamber or cup C1, otherwise termed the p iston cup. When steam enters the cup ort-chamber from the inlet port Z22 the line of force will be at right angles, or at 90 to the radius R of the rotary arm, as indicated ondary cup El, and passing through the center of said diameter. The effective angle of the expansive power is the angle made by the intersection of that line of force with the radius passing through the centerof the diameter ofthe cup E1, from the axis of the rotary engine, which angle, in a rotary or turbine engine containing twelve arms, would be 55. This angle, less than 60,

but more than 45, tends to cause Vthe arms y to revolve and so produce a rotary or turbine engine worked by the expansive power of steamer other motive fluid.

Fig. 9 of the accompanying drawings shows a sectional elevation of a complete turbine having twelve arms and packing or cup rings attached to the piston-cups of each arm. The steam or other fluid, introduced into the steam chest through pipe inlet b, is divided or separated, into two currents by divider b1 in such manner that the larger portion, say two-thirds, passes through port b2, into one of the steam-tight cups or chambers in the piston-head of one of the rotary arms c', fo-r instancethe arm @Fm in said figure. The steamfirst enters the'main cup .or chamber C1, and then the supplemental, communicating vchamber 'El of bulbous shape, and presses against the cup, ring or packing F, to force the outer or upper portion of its sections against the sides of the working chamber, rendering the piston-cup steam tight. Since the top of the piston-cup is not closed thereby, but konly limited to its own area, its rcharge of steam will continue to press against .the exposed portion of the working chamber, and thereby tend to carry the piston-headforward and rotate its arm. The arm (ie-m is forced by this action of the steam from the position c-m to the position c-n, and into communication with the expansion chamber'c2, the next arm c-Z being atV the same time moved forward from communication with the preceding expansion chamber cginto the position c-m and communication with the steam port b2., whereupon the steam will act as before, upon the piston-cup and packing of c-Z, to drive said arm on. y

The port or opening b3 of the steam chest, placed in rear of port b2, is used to supply power to the steam-tight cup of thearm c- Z at a point where the steam-tight cup of the arm c--mt has broken connection with port b2, and the steam-tight cup of arm c-Z has not yet reached that port. It is also useful in starting the machine when it last stopped.

When the air-tight cups or chambers on the piston-heads of the several arms communicate with the expansion chambers or cavities around the shell or casing, the steam expands to exert fresh energy, so that the engine will be driven both by the impact or inertia of the'steam, and the expansion o the same.y

I am aware that, prior to my invention, turbine or rotary engines have beenconstructed for the use of water, air or steam as motive power, having revolving pistons in the form of buckets or paddles, but in none of them is employed a continuous ring-piston conforming to and closely fitting into a cylindriform annular working chamber, and operating after the fashion of my invention, and I do not know or believe that any one before me has originated the hereinbefore described method of forcing the packing of 4 the piston cups out against the wall of the working chamber and of automatically graduating the pressure of the packing thereagainst by and according to the pressure of the steam or other motive fluid itself.

That I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In an engine of the nature described, the combination of a casing having a working chamber with inlet and exhaust ports, a closely fitting rotor operating in said chamber and having a peripheral force receiving cup, and a measurably pliant lining to said cup, the edges of which lining are forced outwardly against the opposing wall of the inclosing chamber by the pressure of the charge of motive fluid.

Q. In an engine of the nature described, the combination of a casing having a working chamber with inlet and exhaust ports, a closely fitting rotor operating in said chambei' and having a series of peripheral cups or cavities, and individual, measurably pliant linings to each cup, the edges of which linings are forced outwardly against the opposing wall of the inclosing chamber-by the pressure of the charge of motive fluid, so as to cut off the escape of the charge in any direction until an intentional relief is reached.

3. In an engine of the class described the combination of a casing having an annular chamber circular in cross section, and further provided with an inlet and exhaust, a rotor in the casing having piston head operating in the annular chamber thereof, said piston head having a peripheral force receiving cup, the said cup being provided with a measurably pliant lining the edges of which are forced outwardly against the opposing wall of the annular chamber by the pressure of the charge of motive fluid.

4. In an engine of the class described the combination of a casing having an annular chamber circular in cross section and provided with a removable lining, the said cas- -ing being also provided with inlet and eX- haust ports for the said chamber, in combination with a rotor having peripheral piston heads operating in the chamber of the casing and each provided with a force receiving cup, opening into said chamber, each of the said cups being provided with a lining measurablv pliant and the edges of which are forced outwardly against the opposing wall presented by the lining of the casing chamber, by the pressure of motive fluid.

5. In a turbine engine, the combination of a casing having a cylindriform annular chamber, and a steam chest, the chamber and chest being in communication with each other through spaced ports, one in advance of the other, a divider in the chest, forming tapered passages trending in the direction of rotation of the piston and leading to said ports, and a rotary ring piston conforming to the cylindriform chamber and fitting closely therein, and provided wit-h cups or cavities to receive the steam from said ports.

6. In a turbine engine, the combination of a casing composed of separable castings and containing an annular chamber and a steam chest, the chamber and chest being in communication with each other through spaced ports, one in advance of the other, a divider in the chest forming tapered passages for directing steam to said ports, a removable lining in the annular chamber of the casing, and retained in position between the separable castings forming the casing, said lining having openings or ports registering with the first mentioned ports, and a rotary ring piston having cavities or cups to receive steam from said ports.

7. In a turbine engine, the combination of a casing having a cylindriform annular chamber and a steam chest, the chamber and ichest being in communication through spaced ports, one in advance of the other, and a rotary ring piston conforming to the cylindriform chamber and closely fitting therein, and provided with an annular series of cups or cavities to receive the steam from said ports, the latter being spaced apart a dstance greater than the length of one of the cups or cavities in the piston, as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In a turbine engine, the combination with a casing provided with a cylindriform, annular chamber, steam inlet and exhaust port, and an expansion chamber in communication with said annular chamber at a point in advance of the steam inlet, of a rotary ringpiston filling said chamber throughout its length and provided peripherally with spaced cups or cavities, cut oft' one from another, which receive steam from the inlet, whereby the piston will be driven by impact, and which also bring the steam to the expansion chamber, whereby the steam will expand while still in communication with the cup and drive the piston by such expansive action.

9. In a turbine engine, the combination with a casing provided with a cylindriform, annular chamber, a` steam inlet and an eX- haust opening, and a series of expansion chambers arranged between the inlet and the exhaust opening and communicating with the annular chamber, of a rotary ring-piston l snugly filling the chamber throughout its j entire length and having a peripheral series j offopen cups or cavities, spaced apart and means for packing the independent cups or cavities of the piston to retain the steam therein.

11. In a turbine engine,r the combination of a casing provided with an annularchamber, a steam inlet for said chamber, and an expansion cavity, a rotaryl ring piston provided with cups or cavities to pass said inlet and said expansion ichamber, expansible 25 packing devices for the cups or cavities of the piston, to render the same steam-tight, and a grating arranged over the expansion chamber or cavity to prevent said parking f devices from entering the same.

12. In a` turbine engine, the combination ofa casing having an annular chamber provided with inlet and exhaust openings, the casing also having one or more expansion. chambers communicating with said annular chamber, a rotary ring piston consisting` ycf a shaft, and radiating arms, the latter having at their outer end piston-heads and pistoncups or cavities, packing devices for the said cups or cavities, adaptedto Aisolate the motive charge contained therein.k

13. In a turbine engine, the combination of a casing having an annular chamber provided with inlet and exhaust openings, the casing also having one or more kexpansion chambers communicating with the said an nular chamber, a rotary ring piston consisting of a shaft, and radiating arms, the latter having at their outer ends piston-heads and piston-cups or cavities, the loosely connected vpressurefresponsive packing members in the piston cups and the expansible sectional packing members on said pressure-respond f ling members.

14. The combination in an expansive turbine engine, of a steam chest having a d1- vider between its 4two'successiveroutlets, with an annular working chamber in which a rotating ring piston revolves about the common axis, ringed cups formed on said piston, which ringed cups pass over the said outlets from the steam chest, said arms while revolving being steam tight in the said annular chamber, and suitable exhaust openings, all substantially as shown and for the purposes specified.

15. The combinationin an expansive turbine engine of three or more detachable rotary arms having in the upper 'cylinder end of each a pear-shaped opening consisting of two cups, one oval in shape and opening on the top into a chamber in which the arms revolve and the other cup semisph'erical in shape, adjoining and opening into one end of the oval shaped cup, the center line of the two cups being at an angle of between fortyfive and sixty degrees with a radius from the axis of a turbine engineand a diameter of the semispherical cup, all substantially as shown and for the purposes specified.

16. In an expansive turbine engine, the combination of a steam chest having two successive outlets and a divider arranged between said outlets, an annular working chamber adjacent to the steam chest and into which its outlets open; a cupped packing ring arranged in a pear-shaped opening on the outerl pistonlike extremity of each of the several arms revolvlng about a common axis in said working chamber, said cupped packing ring consisting of two halves attached to each other by a tongue and groove jointure with two or more springs holding the said halves together, and flanged shaped projections on the inside at either end of each half of the said ring where the said ring lits over an opening into the spherical shaped chamber and the ring seat respectively, and with flanged shaped projections on the outside of each half of said cupped ring at the top and at either end of each half, all substantially as set forth and for the purposes specified.

17. In an expansive turbine engine, the combination of an annular chamber in which ringed, steam-tight cups revolve, said cups having an opening on the outer side adj oining the inner circumference of said chamber, with a steam chest chamber adjacent to and opening into said annular chamber, said steam chest having a divider and two outlets, one on either side of said divider, each taper in shape butdifferent in size, the forward outlet discharging a greater Vvolume of steam, both of said outlets opening into said annular chamber at points on the inner circumference of said annular chamber over which the ringed cups pass in revolving,all substantially as shown and for the purposes 18. In an expansive turbine engine of the movable and replaceable lining for said annular chamber, adapted to take up wear. 10 l In testimony whereof I hereunto ax my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHESTER J. FELIO.

19. The combination, to forni a turbine casing, of twin section castings, each containing its half of an annular working Chamber, a steam chest, and appropriate ports7 and having lugs or ears whereby they may be bolted together, a centering and packing groove on one section and a corresponding projection on the other, and a re- Witnesses:

WILLIS L. WYMAN, P. PLUDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

